Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Kuang

Publications and source records attributed to A Kuang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

[The measurement of tracheo-bronchial mucociliary clearance by technetium-99m DTPA aerosol scintigraphy].

Mucociliary clearance of respiratory channels is one of the important mechanisms guarding against retention of foreign particles within the lungs. Thus objective assay of the system is essential to recognizing and understanding its abnormalities. In this study, 18 healthy subjects and 32 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) were examined by technetium-99m-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy. Monitoring was performed by visual inspection (cinescintigraphy) and quantitative analysis. The mucociliary clearance rates of 18 healthy subjects and 32 COPD patients were 3.89 +/- 0.92 mm/min and 1.32 +/- 0.59 mm/min respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that the airway clearance rate and mucociliary clearance rate of COPD patients were significantly lower than those of normal subjects (P < 0.01). The method of assay reported here is simple and objective. It has not only the advantage of visual inspection and quantitative analysis, but also the potential usefulness in studying other bronchial diseases and evaluating therapeutic effectiveness of drugs.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Methodological study on preparation of a novel myocardial perfusion imaging agent: 99mTc-Q3].

This study was intended to explore the methods of preparing technetium-99m-N, N'-ethylenebis (acetylacetoneiminato) bis [tris (3-methoxy-1-propyl) phosphine] (99mTc-Q3) as a newer cationic myocardial perfusion imaging agent. The optimum scheme of technetium labeling on the basis of exploring the effects of differently labeled conditions on radiochemical purity was established by a multivariate orthogonal experimental design. A newer agent for myocardial perfusion imaging was developed based on the optimum scheme by a stannous chloride reduction method. Preparation, separation, purification and quality control were performed by a chromatography. Experiments for stability (in vitro), sterility, apyrogen, safeness, and for imaging in animals were carried out. "A2B2C2" was chosen as the optimum scheme of this labeled complex. There each of A, B and C factors has significant effect on the radiochemical purity, and there is no one-class cross effect on the radiochemical purity between them. The labeling efficiency and radiochemical purity were measured over 99% labeled 10 min later (at R. T.). The stability (in vitro) was good and kept up to 4 hr or testing (range: 92%-99.37%). The prepared product was sterile, apyrogenic and safe. The scintigraphic imaging in rabbits demonstrated that the tracer accumulated early in the heart and the myocardial imaging displayed clearly up to 3 hr. The results of this methodological study demonstrate that not only high quality 99mTc-Q3 can be obtained but also a standardized procedure for labeling all kinds of 99mTc-agents can be set up, and on this basis, the one-step kit of 99mTc-Q3 may be developed.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Dynamic study of hepatocellular pathological change and uptake rate of 125I-insulin during experimental hepatocarcinogenesis].

This study was designed to observe the hepatocellular pathological change and uptake rate of 125I-insulin during experimental hepatocarcinogenesis in rats and clarify the possible mechanism of increasing uptake of 125I-insulin. 80 SD rats were divided into 2 groups, control and experimental groups. All of the rats were given common feed, and the rats of experimental group were given extra diethylnitrosamine (DENA) 70 mg/kg each week. At 6th, 11th, 15th and 20th week after start of the experiment, 10 control and 10 experimental rats were killed 1 hour post administration of 125I-insulin by tail vein. Blood, liver, lung, spleen, kidney, muscle and bone were collected; the radioactivity was measured and calculated %ID/g. The data of 2 groups were compared and examined with t-test. All of livers were pathologically examined. The results showed all livers of control group were normal. At 6th week, the surfaces of experimental rats' livers were coarse. Hepatocellular hyperplasia was observed, 125I-insulin-uptake rate was 1.86 time as much as that of control group. At 11th week, the liver's colour became lighter than that of control group. Hyperplasia and hepatocirrhosis were observed, 125I-insulin-uptake rate was 1.50 time as much as that of control group. At 15th week, hyperplastic nodules were observed in all experimental rats' livers. Hepatomacellulae were observed in 6 rat livers. 125I-insulin-uptake rate was 1.56 time as much as that of control group. At 20th week, the livers became enlarged out of shape. There were a lot of big or small greyish white nodules in all livers. Necrosis, liquefaction and hemorrhage were observed. Hepatomacellulae were observed in all of experimental rats livers. 125I-insulin-uptake rate was 1.46 time as much as that of control group. The differences of 125I-insulin-uptake rate between experimental and control groups were significant. These results demonstrated that the liver ability of uptaking 125I-insulin increased which mainly took place during the period of hepatocellular hyperplasia, and the hepatomacellulae kept this characteristic.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Oxygen-depleted zones inside reproductive structures of Brassicaceae: implications for oxygen control of seed development.

Growth of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. in decreasing oxygen partial pressures revealed a linear decrease in seed production below 15 kPa, with a complete absence of seed production at 2.5 kPa oxygen. This control of plant reproduction by oxygen had previously been attributed to an oxygen effect on the partitioning between vegetative and reproductive growth. However, plants grown in a series of decreasing oxygen concentrations produced progressively smaller embryos that had stopped developing at progressively younger stages, suggesting instead that their growth is limited by oxygen. Internal oxygen concentrations of buds, pistils, and developing siliques of Brassica rapa L. and siliques of Arabidopsis were measured using a small-diameter glass electrode that was moved into the structures using a micromanipulator. Oxygen partial pressures were found to be lowest in the developing perianth (11.1 kPa) and pistils (15.2 kPa) of the unopened buds. Pollination reduced oxygen concentration inside the pistils by 3 kPa after just 24 h. Inside Brassica silique locules, partial pressures of oxygen averaged 12.2 kPa in darkness, and increased linearly with increasing light levels to 16.2 kPa. Measurements inside Arabidopsis siliques averaged 6.1 kPa in the dark and rose to 12.2 kPa with light. Hypoxia in these microenvironments is postulated to be the point of control of plant reproduction by oxygen.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1999

[Prospects for antisense techniques].

Antisense technique, developed on the principle of base complementation, is a method using short strand oligonucleotide fragments complementary to target DNAs or target RANs for inhibition of gene expression. As a theoretically perfect and specific method to block the expression of gene, it has been rapidly developed over the last twenty years. This review expatiates on its techniques, its problem and possible way of problem-solving, and its recent application in medicine. Also this review discusses the trends of its further development.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Determination of sarafloxacin by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)].

A method for the separation and determination of Sarafloxacin by HPLC was developed. The sample was dissolved in a mixture of V(acetonitrile):V(water) = 1:1. Operating conditions were as follows: mu-Bondapak C18 column (3.9 mm x 300 mm), V(acetonitrile):V(methanol):V(2 mmol/L H3PO4, adjust pH 3.5 with triethylamine) = 30:5:65 as mobile phase with a flow rate of 1 mL/min, UV detection at 278 nm, and column temperature was 15 degrees C. Under the above conditions, Sarafloxacin and other impurities were separated from each other. The method was simple, rapid, sensitive and accurate.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1998

Changes in Arabidopsis leaf ultrastructure, chlorophyll and carbohydrate content during spaceflight depend on ventilation.

Leaf structure and function under spaceflight conditions have received little study despite their important implications for biological life support systems using plants. Previous reports described disruption of the membrane apparatus for photosynthesis and a general decrease in carbohydrate content in foliage. During a series of three short-duration experiments (Chromex-03, -04, -05) on the US space shuttle (STS-54, STS-51, STS-68), we examined Arabidopsis thaliana leaves. The plants were at the rosette stage at the time of loading onto the space shuttle, and received the same light, temperature, carbon dioxide and humidity regimes in the orbiter as in ground controls. The experiments differed according to the regime provided in the headspace around the plants: this was either sealed (on mission STS-54); sealed with high levels of carbon dioxide (on mission STS-51) or vented to the cabin air through a filtration system (on mission STS-68). Immediately post-flight, leaf materials were fixed for microscopy or frozen in liquid nitrogen for subsequent analyses of chlorophyll and foliar carbohydrates. At the ultrastructural level, no aberrations in membrane structure were observed in any of the experiments. When air-flow was provided, plastids developed large starch grains in both spaceflight and ground controls. In the experiments with sealed chambers, spaceflight plants differed from ground controls with regard to measured concentrations of carbohydrate and chlorophyll, but the addition of airflow eliminated these differences. The results point to the crucial importance of consideration of the foliage microenvironment when spaceflight effects on leaf structure and metabolism are studied.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1998

Control of seed development in Arabidopsis thaliana by atmospheric oxygen.

Seed development is known to be inhibited completely when plants are grown in oxygen concentrations below 5.1 kPa, but apart from reports of decreased seed weight little is known about embryogenesis at subambient oxygen concentrations above this critical level. Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. plants were grown full term under continuous light in premixed atmospheres with oxygen partial pressures of 2.5, 5.1, 10.1, 16.2 and 21.3 kPa O2, 0.035 kPa CO2 and the balance nitrogen. Seeds were harvested for germination tests and microscopy when siliques had yellowed. Seed germination was depressed in O2 treatments below 16.2 kPa, and seeds from plants grown in 2.5 kPa O2 did not germinate at all. Fewer than 25% of the seeds from plants grown in 5.1 kPa oxygen germinated and most of the seedlings appeared abnormal. Light and scanning electron microscopic observation of non-germinated seeds showed that these embryos had stopped growing at different developmental stages depending upon the prevailing oxygen level. Embryos stopped growing at the heart-shaped to linear cotyledon stage in 5.1 kPa O2, at around the curled cotyledon stage in 10.1 kPa O2, and at the premature stage in 16.2 kPa O2. Globular and heart-shaped embryos were observed in sectioned seeds from plants grown in 2.5 kPa O2. Tissue degeneration caused by cell autolysis and changes in cell structure were observed in cotyledons and radicles. Transmission electron microscopy of mature seeds showed that storage substances, such as protein bodies, were reduced in subambient oxygen treatments. The results demonstrate control of embryo development by oxygen in Arabidopsis.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1998

[Rapid microdose 14C-urea breath test for detection of Helicobacter pylori infection].

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a rapid microdose 14C-urea breath test (14C-UBT) with a simplified protocol for detecting the infection of hilicobacter pylori (HP). 157 fasting patients who underwent endoscopy with histological examination and rapid urease test (RUT) were given a drink of 37 kBq of 14C-urea. Samples of breath carbon dioxide (1 mmol) were collected at baseline and 10, 20 and 30 min after administration by trapping in hyamine solution. 14C activity was measured by liquid scintillation counting. Results were expressed as cpm. Histolal examination and RUT were used as gold standard for the detection of HP infection. The cutoff value was selected as 200 cpm at 10 min. The results showed that the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 94.79%, 90.16%, 93.81%, 91.60% and 92.99% respectively. In this study, a 10 min, single sample, 37 kBq 14C-urea breath test for detection HP was developed. The test has good diagnostic accuracy with minimal radiation exposure and low cost. Thus, the authors considered the test to be reliable, safe, convenient and cost-effective to clinical use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Plant reproduction during spaceflight: importance of the gaseous environment.

Plant reproduction is a complex developmental process likely to be disrupted by the unusual environmental conditions in orbital spacecraft. Previous results, reviewed herein, indicated difficulties in obtaining successful seen production in orbit, often relating to delayed plant development during the long-term growth necessary for a complete plant life cycle. Using short-duration exposure to spaceflight, we studied plant reproduction in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh, during three flight experiments: CHROMEX-03 on STS-54 (6 d), CHROMEX-04 on STS-51 (10 d), and CHROMEX-05 on STS-68 (11 d). Plants were 13 - 14 d old (rosettes) at time of launch and initiated flowering shoots while in orbit. Plants were retrieved from the orbiters 2 - 3 h after landing and reproductive material was immediately processed for in-vivo observations of pollen viability, pollen tube growth, and esterase activity in the stigma, or fixed for later microscopy. Plants produced equal numbers of flowers to those controls growing on the ground but required special environmental conditions to permit fertilization and early seed development during spaceflight. In CHROMEX-03, plants were grown in closed plant growth chambers (PGCs), and male and female gametophyte development aborted at an early stage in the flight material. In CHROMEX-04, carbon dioxide enrichment was provided to the closed PGCs and reproductive development proceeded normally until the pollination stage, when there was an obstacle to pollen transfer in the spaceflight material. In CHROMEX-05, an air-exchange system was used to provide a slow purging of the PGCs with filtered cabin air. Under these conditions, the spaceflight plants apparently had reproductive development comparable to the ground controls, and immature seeds were produced. In every aspect examined, these seeds are similar to those produced by the ground control plants. The results suggest that if the physical environment around the plant under spaceflight conditions meets the physiological demands of the plant, then reproductive development can proceed normally on orbit.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1997

Plant reproduction in spaceflight environments.

Because plant reproduction is a complex developmental process there are many possible sites of perturbation by the unusual environments of orbital spacecraft. Previous long-duration experiments on Soviet platforms shared features of slowed development through the vegetative stage of plant growth and aborted reproductive function. Our goal has been to understand how special features of the spaceflight environment impact physiological function and reproductive development. In a series of short-duration experiments in the Shuttle mid-deck we studied early reproductive development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Pollen and ovule development aborted at an early stage in the first experiment on STS-54 which utilized closed plant growth chambers. Post-flight analysis suggested that the plants may have been carbon dioxide limited. Subsequent experiments utilized carbon dioxide enrichment (on STS-51) and cabin air flow-through with an air exchange system (on STS-68). Both modifications allowed pollen and ovule development to occur normally on orbit, and full reproductive development up to the stage of an immature seed occurred on STS-68. However, analysis of plant roots from these experiments demonstrated a limitation in rootzone aeration in the spaceflight material that was not mitigated by these procedures. In the future, additional resources (crew time, upgraded flight hardware, and special platforms) will invite more elaborate, long-duration experimentation. On the ISS, a variable speed centrifuge and upgraded plant habitats will permit detailed experiments on the role of gravity in shaping the plant micro-environment, and what influence this plays during reproduction.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1996

Cytochemical localization of reserves during seed development in Arabidopsis thaliana under spaceflight conditions.

Successful development of seeds under spaceflight conditions has been an elusive goal of numerous long-duration experiments with plants on orbital spacecraft. Because carbohydrate metabolism undergoes changes when plants are grown in microgravity, developing seed storage reserves might be detrimentally affected during spaceflight. Seed development in Arabidopsis thaliana plants that flowered during 11 d in space on shuttle mission STS-68 has been investigated in this study. Plants were grown to the rosette stage (13 d) on a nutrient agar medium on the ground and loaded into the Plant Growth Unit flight hardware 18 h prior to lift-off. Plants were retrieved 3 h after landing and siliques were immediately removed from plants. Young seeds were fixed and processed for microscopic observation. Seeds in both the ground control and flight plants are similar in their morphology and size. The oldest seeds from these plants contain completely developed embryos and seed coats. These embryos developed radicle, hypocotyl, meristematic apical tissue, and differentiated cotyledons. Protoderm, procambium, and primary ground tissue had differentiated. Reserves such as starch and protein were deposited in the embryos during tissue differentiation. The aleurone layer contains a large quantity of storage protein and starch grains. A seed coat developed from integuments of the ovule with gradual change in cell composition and cell material deposition. Carbohydrates were deposited in outer integument cells especially in the outside cell walls. Starch grains decreased in number per cell in the integument during seed coat development. All these characteristics during seed development represent normal features in the ground control plants and show that the spaceflight environment does not prevent normal development of seeds in Arabidopsis.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1996

Modification of reproductive development in Arabidopsis thaliana under spaceflight conditions.

Reproductive development in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. cv. Columbia plants was investigated under spaceflight conditions on shuttle mission STS-51. Plants launched just prior to initiation of the reproductive phase developed flowers and siliques during the 10-d flight. Approximately 500 flowers were produced in total by the 12 plants in both the ground control and spaceflight material, and there was no significant difference in the number of flowers in each size class. The flower buds and siliques of the spaceflight plants were not morphologically different from the ground controls. Pollen viability tests immediately post-flight using fluorescein diacetate indicated that about 35% of the pollen was viable in the spaceflight material. Light-microscopy observations on this material showed that the female gametophytes also had developed normally to maturity. However, siliques from the spaceflight plants contained empty, shrunken ovules, and no evidence of pollen transfer to stigmatic papillae was found by light microscopy immediately post-flight or by scanning electron microscopy on fixed material. Short stamen length and indehiscent anthers were observed in the spaceflight material, and a film-like substance inside the anther that connected to the tapetum appeared to restrict the release of pollen from the anthers. These observations indicate that given appropriate growing conditions, early reproductive development in A. thaliana can occur normally under spaceflight conditions. On STS-51, reproductive development aborted due to obstacles in pollination or fertilization.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1996

Dynamics of vegetative cytoplasm during generative cell formation and pollen maturation in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Ultrastructural changes of pollen cytoplasm during generative cell formation and pollen maturation in Arabidopsis thaliana were studied. The pollen cytoplasm develops a complicated ultrastructure and changes dramatically during these stages. Lipid droplets increase after generative cell formation and their organization and distribution change with the developmental stage. Starch grains in amyloplasts increase in number and size during generative and sperm cell formation and decrease at pollen maturity. The shape and membrane system of mitochondria change only slightly. Dictyosomes become very prominent, and numerous associated vesicles are observed during and after sperm cell formation. Endoplasmic reticulum appears extensively as stacks during sperm cell formation. Free and polyribosomes are abundant in the cytoplasm at all developmental stages although they appear denser at certain stages and in some areas. In mature pollen, all organelles are randomly distributed throughout the vegetative cytoplasm and numerous small particles appear. Organization and distribution of storage substances and appearance of these small particles during generative and sperm cell formation and pollen maturation are discussed.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1995

Pollen and ovule development in Arabidopsis thaliana under spaceflight conditions.

The development of pollen and ovules in Arabidopsis thaliana on the space shuttle 'Endeavour' (STS-54) was investigated. Plants were grown on nutrient agar for 14 days prior to loading into closed plant growth chambers that received light and temperature control inside the Plant Growth Unit flight hardware on the shuttle middeck. After 6 days in spaceflight the plants were retrieved and immediately dissected and processed for light and electron microscope observation. Reproductive development aborted at an early stage. Pistils were collapsed and ovules inside were seen to he empty. No viable pollen was observed from STS-54 plants; young microspores were deformed and empty. At a late stage, the cytoplasm of the pollen contracted and became disorganized, but the pollen wall developed and the exine appeared normal. The tapetum in the flight flowers degenerated at early stages. Ovules from STS-54 flight plants stopped growing and the integuments and nucellus collapsed and degenerated. The megasporocytes appeared abnormal and rarely underwent meiosis. Apparently they enlarged, or occasionally produced a dyad or tetrad, to assume the form of a female gametophyte with the single nucleus located in an egglike cell that lacks a cell wall. Synergids, polar nuclei, and antipodals were not observed. The results demonstrate the types of lesions occurring in plant reproductive material under spaceflight conditions.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1994

[125I-alpha-sec-butyl-p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol receptor competitive binding assays in animal body].

Based on the receptor competitive binding assays in the mice and rat body, it has been proved that both diazepam and alpha-sec-butyl-p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (G-018) can inhibit 125I-G-018 binding with brain benzodiazepine receptor. Inhibiting effects were obvious in the cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus and midbrain. But in the medullao blongata and hypothalamus no inhibiting effect was observed. Experimental results have demonstrated that the inhibiting effect is consistent with distribution of benzodiazepine receptor in the brain. Also, experimental results have shown no difference between in vitro and in vivo. The G-018 binding with benzodiazepine receptor has been clarified under physiologic conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Biodistribution and metabolism of 3H-gastrodigenin and 3H-gastrodin in mice].

The biodistribution and metabolism of 3H-gastrodigenin and 3H-gastrodin after intravenous injection were studied by the detection of their radioactivity in mice tissue; the radioactive elements of mice tissue extracts after intravenous injection of 3H-gastrodin were analyzed with thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The results demonstrated that gastrodin could penetrate through the blood-brain barrier into the brain, and it was rapidly decomposed into the gastrodigenin in brain, liver and blood. Then gastrodigenin preserved in brain and mediated its pharmacological inhibitive effects on the central nervous system. Most of the gastrodigenin and gastrodin were excreted by the kidney. The findings also suggested that gastrodin might exist in the enterohepatic circulation.

Animals↗